~ Santiago's POV~

I know I probably shouldn't have told her to leave.

Okay, so I definitely shouldn't have told her to leave.

But, I just couldn't handle the thought of her with another man, a man she probably used to love.
And then, the only thing I wanted to do in that moment was kiss her and tell her how much I wanted her to be mine and that I would never let her see that stupid Jesse guy ever again.

But I couldn't do that because I was lying in a damn hospital bed next to her everyday and I couldn't even freaking hug her never mind kiss her. I wanted to kiss her that first day I was in hospital but we were interrupted and ever since then I've been too damaged to even move and try again.

The most I could do was hold her freaking hand like a pussy.

A couple of hours passed after that little altercation in the morning and by the time I woke up at around 3pm I was already missing her presence so much.

To be clear, when I left her in Santa Ana when we were 18 I definitely wasn't in love with her. I loved her as my bestfriend and nothing more than that. Of course she was beautiful and perfect to me in every way but nothing was ever romantic between us.

That was until I started meeting other women as I got older and realised just how shallow they could be, how they only wanted me for my looks or my money.

Then I started to compare every woman I ever met to her. She set this standard of perfection that no one could ever meet.

Then three years later when I was 22, I saw her outside that club, we slept together and that was it - I knew I was screwed, no pun intended.

Ever since then I've had to push my feelings aside, especially when I get those nightmares whenever she's not sleeping in the same room as me. I knew she would only ever get hurt in this life but now she's too wrapped up into it to leave. This meant she could be mine if she ever forgave me for all the pain I'd caused her when I left.

But I doubt she ever will because I never came back for her, although now that she knows who I am, it should be clear I was only ever trying to protect her.

I let out a sigh as I looked out the window, frowning when I saw the grey clouds in the sky and the rain falling steadily down. The sound of the rain against the windows was actually pretty soothing.

"What the hell did you do?"

But then I have an idiot bestfriend who likes to ruin my peace.

"What?"

Arturo closed the door behind himself as he came into my room, giving me a harsh glare.

"Madison came into the hotel suite crying her eyes out. I thought something had happened to you until she said that you'd had an argument."

"Wait, she was crying?"

"Oh please, don't act concerned now. That woman put her whole damn life on hold for you, she even lost her freaking job for you and then you make her cry. What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Wait, what?" My clueless and shocked expression probably just angered him even more.

"You're a freaking jerk Santiago."

Ignoring his insult, I just shook my head, trying to process what he said.

"What do you mean she lost her job?"

"Her job at the hospital. She'd already used all her vacation days for that trip to Disney world and some other days and so they told her she needed to come back or she'd be fired, so she quit."

"When?" Arturo rolled his eyes at me as he sat down in another chair, leaving her seat empty.

Everyone knew that chair right next to me was for her.

"When you were still in the ICU."

"Why wouldn't she tell me?" My question just caused him to let out a scoff as he glared at me again.

"Because she's been trying to look after you, not make you feel guilty. I don't care what you were arguing about, you have no right to make her cry, not after everything she's sacrificed to be here with you."

The room fell silent as I just sat there, his words lingering in the air.

Everything she's sacrificed.

Her job. Our children. Her sleep. Her health. Her life.

Her boyfriend?

"She can go if she wants to."

My cold response seemed to break Arturo out of whatever rage he was feeling and instead he frowned at me.

"What?"

"I said she can go. She can go back to him."

"To who?" Now he just seemed even more confused as he stared at me like I was losing it.

"Ella ha estado viendo a su ex-novio con los gemelos." (She's been seeing her ex-boyfriend with the twins.)

"¿Entonces esa es la razón por la que la echaste?" (So thats the reason you kicked her out?)

I nodded in response to his question as I ran a hand through my hair which was definitely starting to get too long for my liking.

"That's bullshit and you know it. If she was with her ex she wouldn't be here Santi. What's the real reason?"

"There's no other reason." I shook my head at his question causing him to let out a laugh.

"There's always another reason with you. What is it? Because I know you're in love with her."

"No I'm-"

"Yes you are. So tell me." When he continued to stare at me, clearly not letting go of this, I eventually let out a sigh.

"I'm tired of not being able to do anything. I just lie here everyday not being able to hug her or do anything. That whole time while she tried to defend herself, I just had this urge to kiss her and tell her the real reason I was so mad. But I can't do that because I'm so freaking damaged right now."

Arturo just sat there for a moment staring at me which made me feel even more vulnerable as I lay there, exposing my feelings to him.

"The real reason was that you love her? You don't want her to see him?"

I nodded my head letting out a sigh when a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Just tell her. It might not be perfect and romantic if you're here in that stupid bed but she won't care. She'll understand if you just tell her. As for the bed ridden issue, she's a nurse remember? She'll understand this stuff."

"It makes me look like a pussy."

"Wouldn't you rather look like a pussy than let her cry?" When I didn't reply to his question his smirk just widened - he knew he got me.

"Screw you."

All he did was roll his eyes as he stood to his feet.

"She's sleeping right now but I'll bring her back later after she's eaten. Make sure you tell her otherwise I'll tell her and that'll just ruin it for both of you because then I'll have to kiss her for you and-"

"Then I'll stab you too and you'll be right here next to me."

"There's only two issues with that Santi. Number one, you can't freaking move. Number two, she'd be playing nurse for me too." When Arturo wiggled his eyebrows at me, my glare only increased as he let out a laugh when he saw the anger on my face.

"Relax, I would never do that to you. She's yours, she always has been and she always will be."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<

"Estoy bien, gracias." (I'm good, thank you.)

The silly nurse nodded her head, giving me a smile as she continued to fill up my glass.

"Es suficiente." (That's enough.)

For some reason she just continued to lean over flashing her cleavage to me, still filling the glass up.

"Bitch I just told you I don't want anymore."

Of course, she didn't understand what I was saying so she fluttered her overly long eyelashes at me before standing up.

I heard a small laugh come from the doorway of my room, causing my eyes to shift away from the nurse towards the door. As soon as I made eye contact with her, her smiled dropped as she stepped into my room, allowing the stupid nurse to pass by her.

Even just wearing sweats and a T-shirt with her hair in its natural waves, she looked so beautiful.

"Maddie."

"Santiago." Her clipped tone was enough to tell me how she felt in that moment as she stepped closer to me, remaining standing instead of sitting down on her usual chair right next to me.

The closer she got the more I could see her swollen eyes which just made me feel even worse.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, thank you Maddie."

She nodded her head before looking around the room absentmindedly when it fell silent.

"Maddie please sit down."

"I'll stand, I'm not planning to stay long."

"What do you mean?"

"I think I'm going to fly back to California tomorrow." As soon as she said that, I couldn't stop the frown that formed on my face. "I came to get some of my things that I left here. You don't need me here so-"

"I do, I do need you Maddie. I know I screwed up but please just let me explain. Let me tell you why I reacted like that."

"No Santi. Have you forgotten we still haven't talked about anything that happened in the last eight years of our lives? There's too much water under the bridge."

"No I haven't but-" Before I could finish my sentence she cut me off.

"I can't do this anymore Santiago. Arturo said he'll keep me updated on your progress and if you need me to come back I will but...I think I should go home."

She kept her expression neutral as she turned and picked up her bag that she left here which had all toiletries and things in, before stepping towards the door again to leave.

And before I knew it the words flew out of my mouth.

"I love you."

As soon as I said it she stopped in her tracks, facing the door as she froze. Using the silence, I just continued speaking whatever was in my heart, whatever I could get out.

"I love you Madison. I'm sorry I told you to leave, I'm sorry I made you cry, I'm sorry you had to quit your job for me. I'm so sorry just...please don't leave me. I can't do this without you. I can't be here without you."

I didn't even care that my voice broke and the desperation in my tone was so clear for anyone to hear - I just had to stop her from leaving.

Slowly she turned around to face me, her eyes full of tears as she did. She didn't say a word to me as she stood there, staring at me like she didn't know what to say or how to respond. Finally, she spoke in a hardly audible voice.

"As your friend?"

"What?"

"Do you love me as your friend?" This time her voice was a lot stronger as she spoke, and then I finally realised what she meant.

Reaching my hand out in her direction, I waited for her to finally come closer to me and when she did, she took my hand in hers.

"Say that again." She seemed confused for a second as she slowly sat down on the chair so that she could speak to me closer to my level although I was sitting up in the stupid hospital bed.

"Do you love me as your friend?"

When she said it again, I shook my head, tugging on her hand and soon she took the hint, coming closer to me.

"'Madison... I love you as my freaking soul mate."

~ Madison's POV ~

I was completely speechless as I sat there, leaning towards him when he said those words.

"Your soul mate?" He nodded his head, a nervous smile tugging at his lips.

"I love you more than just a friend or just a lover. I love you so much it freaking hurts. You're my everything Madison. You're my bestfriend and the mother of my children and the love of my life. There's no other word for it...you're my soul mate."

As I listened to those words come out of his mouth, my tears just continued to spill from my eyes as I found myself leaning even closer to him.

Santiago watched me through nervous eyes before I slowly leaned in, bringing my face closer to his. I held his hand in mine as I reached out and brushed my other hand against his cheek.

Soon our faces were inches apart as I closed the gap between our lips.

Then I kissed him.

My lips pressed against his soft ones for a moment before I slowly started moving them against his in a tender, loving kiss.

I didn't picture our first proper kiss to be like this.

But it was perfect.

Like they say for every kiss in every romance novel you'll ever read, this kiss was full of electricity and sparks. It was like his lips were made for mine from the way they fit together and moulded perfectly.

When I finally pulled away from him, I rested my forehead against his as I struggled to catch my breath, a small smile tugging at my lips.

"I love you too."

Santiago smiled back at me before placing his hand behind my head, pulling me in closer to him again so he could kiss me. As I leaned towards him, I had to be careful not to put any pressure on his abdomen since he was still in so much pain.

In contrast to the first kiss, this one was full of urgency and passion, something I hadn't felt in a kiss before.

It was full of want and need.

Eventually once I ran out of air, I pulled away from him completely, sitting back into my chair as I processed what had just happened between us.

"I'm sorry I got so angry earlier...it was just the thought of you being with another man. I was jealous."

Even though he refused to meet my gaze as he spoke, I could see the nervousness on his face as he apologised and I couldn't help the smirk that appeared on my face.

"Sorry, I didn't hear that last bit."

This time, he turned to look at me, narrowing his eyes when he saw the smirk on my lips.

"Anyway, I hope you can kindly accept my apology." I couldn't help but roll my eyes when he said it so formally.

He really hated showing people how he felt. It was so cute.

"I do, kind of."

"Kind of?" I nodded my head as I leaned back into my chair, resting my feet on the edge of his bed like I usually did.

"It wasn't just jealousy. Something else was wrong."

"Why does everyone keep saying that? There's nothing else-"

"Santi." When I gave him a stern look he let out a defeated sigh and I almost expected him to pout like Kenzie would when she was being told off.

Like father like daughter.

"I hate this damn bed. You have no idea how badly I've wanted to do stuff to you over the past few days and I can't because I can't move."

"You wanted to 'do stuff to me'?" Even though I knew exactly what he meant, I enjoyed making him uncomfortable.

Hey, I said I kind of accepted his apology. There's nothing to say I couldn't punish him a little for what he did this morning.

"You know, hug you and kiss you." He awkwardly looked away from me when a smile graced my lips and then I let out a small laugh.

"It happens Santi, I've been around so many patients who haven't moved from their beds in weeks. But, you should have just told me instead of throwing a tantrum."

"Okay are we done? I'm not getting told off anymore, I'm Santiago Hernández, I don't get told off."

I couldn't help but laugh at this as I nodded my head.

"Okay fine, you've suffered enough."

When I laughed he just gave me one of his glares before letting out a sigh, allowing the silence to envelope us again.

"So..."

"So...?"

He rose an eyebrow at me for a moment before a smirk tugged at his lips.

"That was some kiss."

As soon as my mind went back to that heated kiss we shared, now that the mood had changed completely, a blush suddenly rose to my cheeks.

"Stop it." A chuckle escaped his lips at my response. Before either of us could say anything else, the nurse from earlier came in to bring Santiago his dinner, making sure she made it very clear she was trying to flirt with him.

I watched as she flashed him her cleavage again like earlier when she leaned forward to put the plate in front of him, brushing her hand over his arm with that stupid flirty smile on her lips.

"¿Necesita algo más, señor Hernández?" (Do you need anything else, Mr Hernández?)

Santiago returned her smile as he spoke in a soft tone, although it felt like her whole stance became rigid once he was done.

"Tócame otra vez y te prometo que mañana tu madre estará ocupada comprando un sombrero nuevo para llevar a tu funeral." (Touch me again and I promise that tomorrow your mother will be busy buying a new hat to wear to your funeral.)

I'd had to sit there for weeks watching some of the nurses on this ward do their best to flirt with him and every time it hurt, even if I didn't want to acknowledge the pain at the time.

This time, I tried my best to avoid watching their little exchange right in front of me and when she left, I didn't say a word to Santiago.

Did it irk me?

Of course it did.

Was I going to show him how much?

No.

"Maddie-"

"I bet you enjoyed that."

Okay, maybe.

"I-"

"Why don't you call her back and call her your freaking soulmate in Spanish, huh? Bastard." I shook my head at him as I tried to stand up, but he reached his hand out to stop me, letting out a laugh.

"That would be kind of hard since I just threatened to kill her, but maybe she'd think it was kinky, no?"

When he said this, my movements faltered and a frown formed on my face.

"You did?" He nodded his head with that same smug smile as he picked up his fork to start eating his dinner.

"Oh."

He turned to look at me with an eyebrow raised before he smiled again.

"Maddie trust me you have nothing to worry about, I don't want anyone but you. You're mine."

Although those last two words caused my heart to flutter, I shook my head, letting a soft sigh.

"I'm not yours, officially, not yet at least. We have so much to talk about yet Santi, but I want to wait until you're at least out of hospital. This isn't the right time."

He nodded his head at this before he gave me a small smile and reached his hand to take mine.

"Then until then can we just live in the present? Just me and you in this stupid hospital room." He glanced around the room we'd been in for so long before looking back at me.

"Okay baby. Now eat your food before it goes cold."

The next couple of hours went by without anything exciting happening. Santiago ate his dinner while I spent ages trying to find a movie on the flatscreen, and then eventually we settled on Avengers Infinity War.

Of course since I had never seen it before I was busy asking him questions throughout the whole movie which meant by the end he was annoyed with me.

"You just ruined the damn movie."

"No I didn't, if I didn't ask you the questions I would have been lost and then it would have been ruined." Santiago just rolled his eyes at me as I grabbed my toothbrush to go into the bathroom to brush my teeth.

"Haven't you seen this before anyway?" In response to my question, Santiago nodded his head causing me to scoff.

"See, so why are you getting so wound up about this?" Of course he didn't reply as I went into the bathroom to do my nightly routine to get ready for bed.

Or well...to get ready for the chair.

Once I was done, I tossed my hair up into a messy bun before going back into Santiago's room. By the time I got back he'd turned off the lights with the remote by his bed and he was already lying down flat on his bed.

"Hey, you know I like pressing the button." When he just grunted in response to my words, keeping his eyes closed, I just rolled my eyes.

Someone's touchy.

Letting out a sigh, I dropped down onto the chair, placing my feet on the edge of his bed again as I sat there, closing my eyes. It was silent in the room for a moment as I tried to find a comfortable position before Santi eventually spoke.

"Come and sleep on the bed."

Cracking an eye open, I looked at Santiago who had turned his head in my direction.

"No you'll get hurt."

"Maddie there's plenty of space. Come here, I don't like you sleeping on that chair."

I let out a sigh as I shifted my attention over to his bed which was just smaller than a double bed, trying to determine if there really was enough space.

He had asked me a few times before to sleep next to him but I'd always rejected the idea, but now my back really was starting to feel the impact of sleeping in that chair every night.

Maybe that's why hospitals ask visitors to go home at night.

"But Santi what if I hurt you by accident during the night? You're still recovering from your surgery."

"I'm lying on my back Maddie, there's not much you can do to hurt me."

Finally after a few moments, I reluctantly nodded my head and got up off the chair going around the bed to the other side. Santi's eyes followed me as I moved and got into the bed next to him.

"I'm going to get into trouble with the nurses."

"No you won't." When he said this I let out a scoff as I lay my head on the pillow next to his.

"You used to say that at school all the time and yet I always got into trouble."

Flashback
17 years old - 12th Grade.

"Santi I'm not joking. Stop it." I tried my best to give him a harsh glare but all he did was laugh.

"Come on, she's not even looking."

"She will look and then we'll get in trouble." When I said this he flashed me his usual smile, showing off his white teeth.

"Do I ever get in trouble?"

"Of course! And you always drag me down with you." Once again he just smiled before scrunching up yet another paper ball.

He glanced over at the teacher who was busy writing something down on the whiteboard before turning to look at me.

"Head or ass?"

"Neither. Santi stop it." Of course he just laughed before aiming at the teacher and throwing the ball at the back of her head.

As soon as it hit her, she turned around again, looking at the entire class.

"I told you to stop doing that!"

In response to her reaction, everyone burst out into laughter before her eyes zeroed in on Santiago and I when someone sitting behind us clapped Santi on the back.

"It was you, wasn't it? Both of you."

"No, of course it wasn't. We would never do that." I shook my head giving her an innocent smile which she definitely didn't buy.

"Detention - the pair of you. And let me tell you one thing, if I ever catch you throwing things at a teacher again, I will personally make your final year at this school hell."

As soon as her threat left her mouth, Santiago's amusement disappeared and he suddenly became annoyed.

"You're a teacher, so why don't you go up there and teach instead of threatening two students half your age."

"That's two days detention now, for both of you."

My eyes widened at her words and I grabbed Santiago's arm, trying to stop him from speaking again.

"Stop it Santiago."

She gave me a look before shaking her head and turning back towards the white board, only to stop in her tracks again when he spoke.

"Bitch."

"One week of detention, and for you too Miss Clarke."

This time when I turned to look at Santiago with a glare, his previous smile was back on his face.

"But hey at least we're together, right?"

I watched as he let out a laugh when I reminded him of that day he managed to get us a week of detention after school.

"She was a bitch. But, we had fun in detention, remember?"

"No, you had fun, I was on the verge of a heart attack." Once again he laughed as he remembered what we got up to in the detention room.

"We almost got caught so many times Santiago."

"What would they have done? Kicked us out of the school? No one even went into that room anyway which is how we got away with it."

I rolled my eyes as I remembered the day Santiago brought a bag of spray paint cans so that we could paint the whole room black during our week of detention in there everyday.

"And, according to Noah it became the hangout spot for all the goths the following year after we graduated, so we helped them out."

When he told me this I turned my head to look at him with a raised brow.

"Really?"

He nodded his head causing me to laugh before I rolled my eyes, thinking back to our highschool days.

"We did have fun, didn't we?"

"We sure did baby."

<<<<<<< >>>>>>> <<<<<<<<

Just like that another week passed us by as Santiago carried on recovering from his stab wound in hospital.

By the time the week had passed, he was finally able to move a little more himself and now he could sleep on his side instead of always lying flat. This just meant our make out sessions were a lot easier which I was grateful for because leaning over to kiss him all the time was not easy.

But I did it because, well, he's the best kisser I've ever come across.

"Damn."

I smirked against Santiago's lips as I bit his lower lip, enjoying the feeling of his hands roaming my body.

"Hm, you like that?" Releasing his lip, I pressed my lips to his again in another kiss.

"Hell yes, it's sexy." His voice was husky as he smirked at me while I brought my lips down on his again.

"Oh come on, again? Please tell me you've got your clothes on under the duvet."

I froze when I heard someone come into the room while Santiago just let out a frustrated groan. His hands moved from my ass to my hips as I carefully got off him, making sure that I didn't touch his abdomen as I moved back to my side of the small bed.

Santiago turned his attention to Arturo who was smirking at us while I just hid my face in Santi's arm, trying to calm the blush that was very prominent on my face.

That was twice now that he'd caught me straddling Santiago on his hospital bed.

"Don't you know how to knock?"

"Where's the fun in that? Then I would miss the morning show." He gestured over to the bed before he just dropped down on the chair casually.

"So were you having fun?" Finally I lifted my head to glare at Arturo who was still smirking, clearly enjoying this.

"Yes, until you walked in, idiot. Anyway now that you interrupted us, I guess I'll go get our breakfast, you want anything different baby?"

Santiago turned his attention back to me as he thought for a moment before nodding.

"Can you get me some orange juice?"

"Oh, you're being a little daring I see." I gave him a teasing smirk causing him to laugh although he did roll his eyes. Leaning over I pressed one last kiss to his now swollen lips before I got off the bed, going over to the chair to pick up my purse.

"Shall I come with you?"

"No, I'll be fine. I've been going to the bakery everyday for weeks now." I shook my head, declining Arturo's offer as I grabbed my jacket although probably wouldn't need it.

"Go with her." I turned my attention to Santiago who was now sitting up on the bed, focusing his attention on his phone.

"But-"

"Go." When he finally glanced up, giving me a hard look, knowing I wouldn't win against him I just rolled my eyes, turning back to Arturo.

"Come on." Of course he just smirked and stood up, taking my hand in his.

"Let's go my little bitch or should I call you my little slut now." When I heard his words I stopped in my tracks to glare at him but before I could say anything, Santiago spoke first.

"Arturo, watch your mouth." Both Arturo and I glanced over at him to see he was still looking at his phone. He was so used to telling Arturo to stop calling me names that he didn't even bother to look up at us anymore.

Rolling his eyes, Arturo just placed his hand on my shoulder and pushed me out the room so that we could start the walk down the hallway and to the elevator getting in next to each other.

"He's so uptight."

"He's been in hospital for almost a month Arturo of course he's going to be tense." Did he really need me to tell him that?

"Well when he gets discharged soon, you should definitely do something to help him release his tension."

"Like what?" I turned to look at him in confusion, but soon as I saw the smirk on his face, I instantly regretted my question.

"Nevermind."

Of course he erupted into laughter at that just as the doors opened and I quickly walked away from him, going through the lobby of the hospital and out the front doors. We started the short walk down the road to the bakery.

There was a comfortable silence between us as we walked but the worst thing was that the whole time I was busy thinking about Arturo's suggestion.

I'd never done much before in that department, I mean I'd had sex obviously but I definitely wasn't that experienced in the bedroom.

I had no clue what to do.

At least if I did do it, I had some time until Santiago was finally released from hospital because there was no way I would do anything in the hospital room.

Maybe I could do some research?

How does anyone even do research for something like that.

I could always ask Katia but I have a feeling that won't go down well.

Finally, we reached the bakery which brought me out of my very inappropriate yet oddly exciting thoughts.

"You want two croissants?" Arturo nodded his head in response to my question and I turned to tell the woman behind the counter that I wanted seven croissants and three packs of chopped fruit along with Santi's orange juice.

"Why did you ask for seven?"

"Because I usually buy five and then Santi and I split the fifth one to share it together." I gave Arturo a small smile as I told him that but all he did was start laughing all over again.

"It's not funny Arturo, I'm being serious. Two is never enough but three is too much."

"No I know, it's just cute that's all, you share your food." I rolled my eyes as he struggled to contain his laughter and instead I just paid for the breakfast while he was busy calming down next to me.

After that we started the walk back to the hospital just making small talk here and there until we finally reached the room.

Just as I opened the door to Santiago's room, my movements slowed when I heard voices coming from inside. Opening the door, I frowned when I saw two figures standing to the side while Santiago sat on his bed with a furious glare on his face. He looked as if he'd tried to stand up or something since he wasn't sitting how I left him not even twenty minutes ago.

At the sound of the door opening when Arturo and I entered into the tense room, the two people turned around and my eyes instantly widened when I saw two familiar faces.

The moment I laid eyes on them, my mind went back to the time Santiago and I hid in his room listening to his parents argue with his little sister.

"Mr and Mrs Hernández..."

I love this chapter 😍

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